Illegal salvagers pillage sacred Australian warship wreck

A famous Australian World War II warship has been pillaged by illegal metal salvagers, desecrating the war grave of more than 350 sailors, maritime experts say.

Last month's Australian-Indonesian dive on the wreck of the HMAS Perth off the north-west tip of Java found only 40 percent of the vessel remained.

The light cruiser sank in February 1942 along with the American cruiser USS Houston after a fierce battle against an overwhelming force of Japanese warships and is the resting place for 353 of her crew.

The crew of HMAS Perth on the deck of the cruiser when it docked at Fremantle in 1941. (Photo: Royal Australian Navy).
()

Video of the diving expedition conducted 30 metres below the Java Sea showed the extensive damage on the Perth's wreck caused by salvaging.

Kevin Sumption, the director of the Australian National Maritime Museum, said: “It is with profound regret we advise that our joint maritime archaeologist diving team has discovered sections of the Perth missing. Interim reports indicate only approximately 40% of the vessel remaining.

He told nine.com.au that the expedition revealed "large-scale salvage on the site". There was also evidence of recent removal of material.

In 2013, scuba divers reported damage to the wreck as well as sightings of a salvage barge equipped with a large crane on board above the site.

David Manning, (centre), was a teenage gunner on HMAS Perth when it was sunk by a massive Japanese naval force. (Photo: Royal Australian Navy).
()